Floating Leaf

I spoke to my mother today, and found out that my parents are going on a road trip to the Appalachians in October. For a week, from the 3rd to the 9th. I don't know where exactly, and mom couldn't tell me either, since dad is the one planning the itinerary - but the main thing is, they are offering to take me along. And I am torn, because I haven't travelled anywhere in forever, and I love mountains and forests and the rich colors of autumn foliage... but on the other hand, spending most of the time up close and personal with my mother for an entire week?... Gods no. *shudders in acute discomfort* If it were just my dad, I could handle it - or at least if my sister & brother-in-law were also there to deflect some of her attention - but with only my parents, the BOTH of them, it would get pretty stifling pretty soon. I would be the only witness to their petty squabbles and the many ways in which they like to ridicule and demean each other, and I would be expected to take sides and/or diffuse the conflict, which would totally take the fun out of this vacation for me. And I would never have a moment alone, because I would be sharing the car and any hotel rooms with them all the time. Plus, my mother would most likely be hanging on to my arm whenever possible. Which might be fine for a few hours every once in a while... but not for an entire week. My need for personal space would probably drive me nuts very quickly. Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl a little. And yet... I am well aware that no one else might ever give me such a convenient opportunity for an almost free vacation, precisely because I don't socialize and don't keep in touch with local friends who go on trips like this. And I am hardly going to take a road trip to the Appalachians by myself - especially with no car. *sigh*

So, I said I would think about it. I told them about my plans to attend the film festival, so I can use that as a reason why I'm not going (I can hardly tell my mother the real reason, can I?). Btw, the festival starts on the 6th, and it is rather likely that A Dangerous Method will be shown during its first few days - so if I went on the trip, I might miss it. But the festival schedule isn't out yet, and probably won't be until the end of next week, so I don't really know. Plus, the film is going to have a wide release pretty soon afterwards anyway. And I haven't seen/heard any news about Viggo planning to attend the premiere. However, if it turns out suddenly that he does, and I miss it because I'm somewhere out in the wilds being driven crazy by my mother... I don't even want to think about that, LOL. So I guess that's a no. But damn it!... MOUNTAINS. *bites lip*